My mom wanted me to write this diary of my experiences of moving out west and about packing up my old life and starting a new one. So here it goes...
My name is Emmie Sue. I am 13 years old. I have a older brother named Johnny, who is 16 years old, and a younger sister named Harper Mae who is 7 years old. We had a cat named Tilly, but we had to leave her with my aunt and uncle because we could not afford to have her come with us on our trek. I was sad to leave her, but I guess its for the best. Yesterday, my family and I finally finished our long trek out west. I had to leave most of my friends and family. I was mad, but now I realize that this could really be fun to meet new people. My dad and mom say that this will be a fun adventure for the whole family. One night, on our way here, our wagon was attacked by Native Americans. We all woke up and my dad got our gun and went out of the wagon. The Native Americans were scared off, but we feared they would be back, so we got up and started moving again. They never followed us, Thank Goodness! Before we left, we were warned about the Native Americans and had learned about earlier attacks. We were told to be extra careful by our family back home. Today was our second day of settling after the long journey out west. My father and Johnny worked all day long on our new house, which we call a soddie. My mother, my little sister, Harper Mae, and I all worked out in the fields to plant seeds on our farm for food. For food right now, we are eating left overs from the trip. Last night, we all had to spend the night in the wagon, because our house was not built yet. My father and Johnny finished one wall of our house, so we will spend the night in the wagon tonight again. It is not very comfortable in the wagon because it is so small. There are many insects out here and we hope they will not eat our crops, because those are for us to eat. Tomorrow, Johnny will go out and look for a job, to support our family. My mom already has a job as a school teacher, at the school I am in-rolled in. But school wont start for another month, so she will just help out around the house un-till then. I suppose I will go out in the fields again tomorrow and plant the rest of our crops, with the help of Harper Mae. It is very hot, hard work to work out in the field, but I wont be doing it for so much longer because of school starting in a month. I am excited for school, because my mom will work there. For my dad's work, he will work out in the fields and tend to the crops. After they are grown, he will sell some of them, and we will keep the rest of them for our food. After school days, I will go home and do house work, help Harper Mae with any school work she has, make dinner, or help out with anything else that needs to be done around the house. Or maybe all of them! I don't quite know how its all going to span out. My mom would do most of this work, but since she will be teaching, she will have work of her own to do, like grade papers, and prepare for the next school day. Last night, I could hardly get any sleep because it was so hot. I'm hoping that it wont be as hot tonight. There are no other settlements around use for about 2 miles. I can not decide if I like it that way or not... Life is going to be different out here, but I'm sure it will be fun. Well, dad is calling me to go get wood out back for the fire to cook dinner...bye!
My mom wanted me to write this diary of my experiences of moving out west and about packing up my old life and starting a new one. So here it goes...
My name is Emmie Sue. I am 13 years old. I have a older brother named Johnny, who is 16 years old, and a younger sister named Harper Mae who is 7 years old. We had a cat named Tilly, but we had to leave her with my aunt and uncle because we could not afford to have her come with us on our trek. I was sad to leave her, but I guess its for the best. Yesterday, my family and I finally finished our long trek out west. I had to leave most of my friends and family. I was mad, but now I realize that this could really be fun to meet new people. My dad and mom say that this will be a fun adventure for the whole family. One night, on our way here, our wagon was attacked by Native Americans. We all woke up and my dad got our gun and went out of the wagon. The Native Americans were scared off, but we feared they would be back, so we got up and started moving again. They never followed us, Thank Goodness! Before we left, we were warned about the Native Americans and had learned about earlier attacks. We were told to be extra careful by our family back home. Today was our second day of settling after the long journey out west. My father and Johnny worked all day long on our new house, which we call a soddie. My mother, my little sister, Harper Mae, and I all worked out in the fields to plant seeds on our farm for food. For food right now, we are eating left overs from the trip. Last night, we all had to spend the night in the wagon, because our house was not built yet. My father and Johnny finished one wall of our house, so we will spend the night in the wagon tonight again. It is not very comfortable in the wagon because it is so small. There are many insects out here and we hope they will not eat our crops, because those are for us to eat. Tomorrow, Johnny will go out and look for a job, to support our family. My mom already has a job as a school teacher, at the school I am in-rolled in. But school wont start for another month, so she will just help out around the house un-till then. I suppose I will go out in the fields again tomorrow and plant the rest of our crops, with the help of Harper Mae. It is very hot, hard work to work out in the field, but I wont be doing it for so much longer because of school starting in a month. I am excited for school, because my mom will work there. For my dad's work, he will work out in the fields and tend to the crops. After they are grown, he will sell some of them, and we will keep the rest of them for our food. After school days, I will go home and do house work, help Harper Mae with any school work she has, make dinner, or help out with anything else that needs to be done around the house. Or maybe all of them! I don't quite know how its all going to span out. My mom would do most of this work, but since she will be teaching, she will have work of her own to do, like grade papers, and prepare for the next school day. Last night, I could hardly get any sleep because it was so hot. I'm hoping that it wont be as hot tonight. There are no other settlements around use for about 2 miles. I can not decide if I like it that way or not... Life is going to be different out here, but I'm sure it will be fun. Well, dad is calling me to go get wood out back for the fire to cook dinner...bye!
-Emmie Sue